NEW HAVEN, CT — Work to replace highway signs and renumber exits on I-91 begins Thursday, Oct. 15, from New Haven to the Connecticut state line, launching a $5 million, two-year project. CTDOT announced the project in a release dated Oct. 5; work is scheduled to finish in September 2028.
Lane Closures and Work Hours Ahead for Drivers
Motorists can expect temporary lane and shoulder closures on I-91 northbound and southbound as work moves through various towns. Crews plan to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Friday. Traffic control personnel and signs will guide drivers through each work zone.
Weather or unforeseen conditions could change the schedule. Drivers should maintain a safe speed through work areas.
The Quaker Corporation, based in Cheshire, is performing the work. DOT spokesperson Eva Zymaris said the extended schedule reflects the scale of the job: well over 1,000 signs must be made, moved and installed. Overhead signs sit above active traffic, so crews need equipment for heavy lifts and nighttime lane closures.
Why I-91 Signs and Exit Numbers Are Changing
CTDOT said the existing extruded aluminum panels have “exceeded their useful service life.” The new panels will improve retro-reflectivity, visibility and readability, particularly at night and in bad weather.
CTDOT is changing I-91 from sequential exit numbering to a mileage-based format, which the state says meets federal standards. DOT’s interactive map shows the new sequence will span exits 1 through 57, with New Haven at the low-numbered end and Enfield at the high-numbered end.
Old exit signs usually stay in place for about two years after renumbering, according to the DOT website. Exit 21 in Cromwell will become Exit 26.